May 6, 2010

1,160 years ago
850

Died on this date
Ninmyō, 41. Emperor of Japan, 833-850. Ninmyō, born Masara, was the second son of Emperor Saga, and acceded to the throne following the abdication of his uncle Junna. He was succeeded as Emperor by his son Montoku.

170 years ago
1840

Died on this date
Francisco de Paula Santander, 48. 4th President of the Republic of New Granada, 1832-1837. Brigadier General Santander made his name in the revolutionary army during the independence war of the United Provinces of New Grenada in the 1810s and was acting President of Gran Colombia from 1819-1826 before being exiled after being blamed for an assassination attempt on actual President Simón Bolívar. He returned from exile in 1832 to assume the presidency of New Grenada, an office he held for one term.

Politics and government
The U.S. Democratic National Convention concluded at the Assembly Rooms in Baltimore with the renomination of U.S. President Martin Van Buren. The convention declined to name a vice presidential candidate; Vice President Richard M. Johnson was regarded as a liability, and states were left to nominate their own candidates.

130 years ago
1880

Born on this date
E.L. Kirchner. German artist. Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was an Expressionist painter and one of the founders of Die Brücke (The Bridge), a key group leading to the foundation of Expressionism. He suffered a nervous breakdown during World War I and was discharged from service. Mr. Kirchner became a drunkard and drug addict, but recovered after several years, and was productive in the 1920s. He experienced difficulty selling his paintings after the Nazis came to power in Germany; when they held the Degenerate Art Exhibition in 1937, 639 of Mr. Kirchner's works were taken out of museums, and 25 were put on display. Mr. Kirchner was 58 when he committed suicide by shooting himself outside his house in Frauenkirch-Wildboden, Switzerland on June 15, 1938.

Winifred Brunton. U.K. artist. Mrs. Brunton, the wife of Egyptologist Guy Brunton, accompanied him on his archaeological digs, and painted portraits of Egyptian monarchs, which were published in the books Kings and Queens of Ancient Egypt (1926) and Kings and Queens of Ancient Egypt (1926). She died in South Africa on January 29, 1959 at the age of 78.

120 years ago
1890

Disasters
Fire destroyed the lunatic asylum at Longue-Pointe Quebec, killing 70 inmates.

100 years ago
1910

Died on this date
Edward VII, 68. King of Great Britain and Emperor of India, 1901-1910. Edward VII, the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, was regarded as a playboy before he assumed the throne at the age of 59, but he proved a popular king and skilled diplomat. His nephew Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany was afraid of him, and it has been speculated that if King Edward had lived another five years, World War I may not have happened. Edward VII died from a series of heart attacks after a period of severe bronchitis, and was succeeded by his second son (the eldest son, Prince Eddy, having died in 1892), who took the throne as King George V.

Auto racing
AAA
Championship Car Series
Bill Endicott led from start to finish and won the 60-mile Atlanta Race 2 and Herbert Lytle won the 50-mile Atlanta Race 3 at Atlanta Motordrome, a 2-mile dirt track; they were the second and third of four Atlanta Races that season, and the second and third in two days. Harry Cohen finished second and Lee Frayer third in the 3-car field in the Atlanta Race 2, while Tom Kincaid finished second and Joe Dawson third in a 5-car field in the Atlanta Race 3.

90 years ago
1920

Died on this date
Bill McTigue, 28. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. McTigue played with the Boston Rustlers/Braves (1911-1912) and Detroit Tigers (1916), compiling a record of 2-5 with an earned run average of 6.19 in 27 games, batting .077 wit no home runs and 1 run batted in in 28 games. He played at least 111 games in at least 6 seasons in the minor leagues from 1911-1918, winning at least 48 and losing at least 37. Mr. McTigue fell ill with a lung disease in 1918, and died four weeks before his 29th birthday.

80 years ago
1930

Baseball
The New York Yankees traded outfielder Cedric Durst and $50,000 to the Boston Red Sox for starting pitcher Red Ruffing, whose career major league won-lost record stood at 39-96 at the time of the trade, and was 0-3 with an earned run average of 6.38 in 4 games with the Red Sox in 1930, and was batting .273 (3 fo 11) with no home runs and 1 run batted in in 6 games. Mr. Durst was batting .158 (3 for 19) with no home runs and 5 runs batted in in 8 games with the Yankees in 1930.

The New York Giants withstood a 6-run rally in the bottom of the 8th inning as they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-9 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The teams combined for 27 hits and 7 bases on balls, but the game was completed in 1 hour 55 minutes.

70 years ago
1940

Literature
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck was awarded the Pulitzer Prize as the most distinguished novel by a U.S. author in 1939.

War
German troops captured the Hegre fortress and Varnes airport in Norway.

Diplomacy
Reports in Rome indicated that Pope Pius XII was making overtures to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to play the role of mediator in bringing peace to Europe.

Economics and finance
The United States Senate approved and sent to President Franklin D. Roosevelt a $110-million rivers and harbours bill.

Baseball
The Boston Bees defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-7 in 12 innings before 2,142 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The Pirates used 24 players to set a major league record, while the teams combined to use 40 players, another record.

60 years ago
1950

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): You're Breaking My Heart--Buddy Clark; Vic Damone

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): "The Third Man" Theme--Anton Karas (Best Seller--2nd week at #1); If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake--Eileen Barton with the New Yorkers (Disc Jockey--7th week at #1); "The Third Man" Theme--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians (Jukebox--1st week at #1)

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 "The Third Man" Theme--Anton Karas (3rd week at #1)
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
2 If I Knew You Were Comin’ (I’d’ve Baked a Cake)--Eileen Barton with the New Yorkers
--Georgia Gibbs
3 It Isn’t Fair--Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra
4 Music! Music! Music!--Teresa Brewer
5 Daddy’s Little Girl--The Mills Brothers
--Dick Todd
6 Dearie--Ray Bolger and Ethel Merman
--Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae
--Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians
7 My Foolish Heart--Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
--Billy Eckstine
--Mindy Carson
8 Bewitched--Bill Snyder and his Orchestra
--Gordon Jenkins and his Orchestra
9 Sentimental Me--The Ames Brothers
--Russ Morgan and his Orchestra
--Ray Anthony and his Orchestra
10 The Old Piano Roll Blues--Lawrence "Piano Roll" Cook
--Hoagy Carmichael and Cass Daley

Singles entering the chart were The Bicycle Song by Sammy Kaye and his "Swing and Sway" Orchestra (#34); Hoop-Dee-Doo, with versions by Perry Como; Kay Starr; and Doris Day (#37); and I Found My Mama, with versions by Rosemary Clooney; and Salty Holmes (#38).

Died on this date
Víctor Manuel Román y Reyes, 77. President of Nicaragua, 1947-1950. Mr. Román was President of the Senate (1929-1930), and was installed as President of Nicaragua following a military coup. He practiced the nationalistic military philosophy of former Nicaraguan President José Santos Zelaya, but took ill and died in Philadelphia. Mr. Román was succeeded as President by Manuel Fernando Zurita.

Lancelot de Mole, 70. Australian engineer. Mr. de Mole submitted an early idea for the tank to the British War Office in 1912, but his idea was rejected. A Royal Commission in 1919 recognized Mr. de Mole's design, and awarded him a small payment to cover his expenses; he was also honoured by being made an honourary corporal, and was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Ralph Kronenwetter, 49. U.S. politician. Mr. Kronenwetter, the Mayor of the small town of Mosinee, Wisconsin, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage several hours after being "arrested" on May 1 as part of a mock Communist seizure of the town.

Married on this date
U.K.-born actress Elizabeth Taylor, 18, and U.S. hotel heir Conrad "Nicky" Hilton, Jr., 23, were married in Hollywood.

World events
The May 5-6 "Noaptea demnitarilor (Night of the Dignitaries)" in Romania resulted in the arrest by the country's current Communist regime of 69 former high-ranking Romanian officials, including Dinu Brătianu, Constantin C. Brătianu, Gheorghe Brătianu, Daniel Ciugureanu, Gheorghe Tătărescu, Constantin Argetoianu, Ion Gigurtu, and Constantin C. Giurescu. Former Prime Minister of Moldova Daniel Ciugureanu, 64, suffered a stroke in the van that was transporting him to Sighet Prison, and reportedly died 13 days later, although one account stated that he died in the van.

Danish ship captains reported that five Danish fishing vessels had been seized on the high seas by Soviet Navy ships in the past 15 days near Kaliningrad on the Baltic Coast.

Diplomacy
Nationalist China withdrew from the World Health Organization, apparently in an effort to save money.

Americana
U.S. President Harry Truman urged statehood for Alaska and Hawaii as an action which would "greatly strengthen the security of our nation."

Defense
The U.S. National Association of Real Estate Boards reported that there was little chance for the dispersal of principal U.S. industries already established to reduce the danger of destruction in a nuclear attack.

Health
Daniel Barrow of the National Hearing Foundation estimated that 10% of Americans were hard of hearing.

Disasters
A fire in Rimouski, Quebec caused $10 million in damage.

Horse racing
Middleground, with Bill Boland up, won the 76th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville in a time of 2:01 3/5, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Hill Prince, with Mr. Trouble third in the 14-horse field.



Baseball
The Pittsburgh Pirates released pitcher Harry Gumbert, ending his 15-year major league career. Mr. Gumbert was 0-0 with an earned run average of 5.40 in 1 game with Pittsburgh in 1950, batting 1 for 1 with a run. He left the major leagues with a record of 143-113 and an ERA of 3.68 in 508 games, batting .184 with 5 home runs and 45 runs batted in in 512 games.

The Philadelphia Athletics sold outfielder Ben Guintini to the St. Louis Browns. Mr. Guintini was batting 0 for 4 in 3 games with the Athletics in 1950.

Luis Olmo‚ Earl Torgeson‚ Bob Elliott‚ Willard Marshall‚ and Sid Gordon hit home runs for the Boston Braves as they defeated the Cincinnati Reds 15-11 before 3,328 fans at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. The homers gave the Braves a National League record of 13 in 3 consecutive games. Grady Hatton, Ron Northey, and pinch hitter Bob Usher homered for the Reds. Boston outhit Cincinnati 19-15. Jay Avrea, the third of five Cincinnati pitchers, allowed 3 hits and 2 runs--both earned--with 1 strikeout and no bases on balls, striking out in his only plate appearance in his second and last major league game.

The New York Giants scored 5 runs in the 5th inning, but needed Bobby Thomson's grand slam in the 8th to provide the winning margin as they edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-8 before 13,577 fans at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Ralph Kiner hit a grand slam for the Pirates in the bottom of the 5th. Sal Maglie (1-0), the third of four New York pitchers, got his first major league win since 1945; he had recently returned to the Giants after four seasons in the Mexican League. Pittsburgh used 8 pitchers.

The Philadelphia Phillies scored 5 runs in the first 2 innings and 4 in the 9th as they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 11-7 before 9,730 fans at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Del Ennis and Stan Lopata each had 3 hits and 2 runs batted in for the Phillies.

Birdie Tebbetts hit 2 home runs and Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Vern Stephens, and Dom DiMaggio also homered for the Boston Red Sox as they routed the Chicago White Sox 11-1 before 12,776 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Gus Zernial homered for the White Sox run. Chuck Stobbs (2-0) pitched a 4-hitter, with Ken Holcombe (0-1) taking the loss. John Perkovich, the third and last Chicago pitcher, allowed 7 hits and 4 runs--all earned--in 5 innings, walking 1 batter and striking out 3, and striking out in his only plate appearance, in his only major league game.

50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Cathy's Clown--The Everly Brothers (2nd week at #1)

On television tonight
The Twilight Zone, on CBS
Tonight's episode: A Stop at Willoughby, starring James Daly

Died on this date
Vern Bickford, 39. U.S. baseball pitcher. Mr. Bickford played with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1948-1953) and Baltimore Orioles (1954), compiling a record of 66-57 with an earned run average of 3.71 in 182 games. He was 11-5 as a rookie with the National League champions, and was the losing pitcher in the third game of the 1948 World Series against the Cleveland Indians. Mr. Bickford was 16-11 in 1949 and pitched in the major league All-Star Game. His best season was 1950, when he went 19-14 and led the National League in games started (39); complete games (27); and innings pitched (311 2/3). On August 11, 1950 Mr. Bickford pitched a no-hitter against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Braves Field, the only no-hitter in the majors that year. Mr. Bickford broke a finger in 1951, and was never able to regain his old form. His first game with the Orioles was also his last, as he gave up 4 earned runs in 4 innings and took the loss; oddly, Mr. Bickford's last major league game came 6 years to the day after his first game. Mr. Bickford had a bone spur removed from his elbow in the summer of 1954, and ended his professional baseball career with the Rochester Red Wings of the International League in 1955, going 1-0 in 9 games with an ERA of 8.49. He then drifted from job to job before he died of stomach cancer.

Married on this date
Britain’s Princess Margaret married photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones at Westminster Abbey in London. It was the first royal wedding to be televised.



40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): Back Home--England World Cup Squad '70

War
North Vietnam and the Viet Cong called off the 66th session of the Paris peace talks. The move was described as a "political decision" to protest the American bombing raids over North Vietnam.

Two new fronts in Cambodia were opened by American and South Vietnamese troops, raising the number of allied troops in the operation to almost 50,000.

A Soviet explanation of the commitment of Soviet pilots to combat missions in Egypt was termed "unsatisfactory" by the U.S. State Department. Officials with the U.S. administration of President Richard Nixon wanted a Soviet assurance that the pilots’ missions were limited, or a denial that they were in Egypt for any purpose other than training.

Diplomacy
The People’s Republic of China, North Vietnam, and North Korea were among the countries withdrawing diplomatic recognition of Cambodia. The Cambodian government agreed to establish diplomatic relations with South Vietnam and withdrew recognition of the Viet Cong.

Politics and government
It was reported that U.S. Secretary of the Interior Walter Hickel had sent a letter to President Richard Nixon in which he said that the administration was turning its back on American youth and contributing to anarchy and revolt. Mr. Hickel said that any more attacks by Vice-President Spiro Agnew would solidify their hostility and make communication impossible.

Terrorism
Samuel J. Melville, 34, an engineering technician and mastermind of a plot to bomb federal and office buildings in New York City, pleaded guilty at the outset of his trial in U.S. Federal Court to three counts, including the bombing of one building and conspiracy to bomb federal buildings. Two other defendants--Jane Alpert, 22, and John David Hughey III--pleaded guilty only to the conspiracy count. They had been named in a 19-count conspiracy indictment, along with Patricia Swinton, 22, who was still being sought, and Jonathan Grell, 18, due to have another trial.

Basketball
NBA
Finals
New York 113 @ Los Angeles 135 (Best-of-seven series tied 3-3)

The Lakers took a 36-16 lead after the 1st quarter and coasted to victory over the Knickerbockers before 17,509 fans at the Forum in Inglewood, California. Wilt Chamberlain led the Lakers with 45 points and 27 rebounds, while Jerry West added 33 points, 6 rebounds, and 13 assists. Dave DeBusschere led New York scorers with 25 points, and grabbed 9 rebounds.

30 years ago
1980

Politics and government
In U.S. Presidential primaries, President Jimmy Carter won Democratic Party votes in Tennessee, Indiana, and North Carolina, while U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy won in the District in Columbia. Former California Governor Ronald Reagan won Republican primaries in the same states as Mr. Carter, while George Bush won in the District of Columbia.

Terrorism
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said that she hoped that the previous day’s successful raid to free hostages by British SAS troops on the Iranian embassy in London would "have an effect on the future position with regard to the American hostages in Iran," and that it was the responsibility of "each and every government to look after the safety of diplomats on their territory."

Protest
Thousands of auto workers at the Togliati motor works, 650 miles southeast of Moscow, went on strike, protesting prolonged shortages of meat and dairy products in the Volga region.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Semi-Finals
Buffalo 7 @ New York Islanders 4 (New York led best-of-seven series 3-1)
Philadelphia 3 @ Minnesota 2 (Philadelphia led best-of-seven series 3-1)

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand (RIANZ): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (5th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: The Power--Snap!

Austria's Top 10 (Ö3)
1 Ding Dong--Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung (2nd week at #1)
2 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor
3 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles
4 The Power--Snap!
5 Das erste Mal tat's noch weh--Stefan Waggershausen & Viktor Lazlo
6 Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International
7 Pump ab das Bier--Werner
8 Infinity (1990's...Time for the Guru)--Guru Josh
9 Hier kommt Kurt--Frank Zander
10 Vogue--Madonna

Singles entering the chart were Von Zeit zu Zeit by Rainhard Fendrich (#25); and 48 Hours by Blue System (#28).

Died on this date
Charles Farrell, 88. U.S. actor. Mr. Farrell was a leading man in movies in the 1920s and 1930s, best known for romantic teamings with Janet Gaynor in such films as 7th Heaven (1927); Street Angel (1928); and Lucky Star (1929). He served as Mayor of Palm Springs, California from 1953-1960.

Politics and government
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said that his government was willing to risk continued unpopularity in order to take tough economic measures. "We’re going to take a shellacking for an extended period of time, not because we enjoy it...but because we’re going the right way." He said that Progressive Conservative caucus members were unanimous in endorsing measures such as the Goods and Services Tax even if it meant falling further in public opinion polls. A recent Gallup poll put Mr. Mulroney’s support at a new low of 16%.

Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Finals
Edmonton 1 @ Chicago 5 (Chicago led best-of-seven series 2-1)

Baseball
Kelly Gruber hit his 8th and 9th home runs of the season to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to an 11-7 win over the Detroit Tigers before 49,206 fans at SkyDome. Cecil Fielder hit 3 homers for Detroit, giving him 10 for the year. The teams combined to hit 10 home runs.

The Seattle Mariners defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 before 36,919 fans at the Kingdome in Seattle despite Mariner third baseman Edgar Martinez’s 4 errors.

10 years ago
2000

War
In response to the previous day’s rockets fired into Israel by Hizbollah terrorists, Israeli planes attacked power stations near Beirut and Tripoli and a suspected Hizbollah ammunition depot. Lebanon estimated damage from the air strikes at up to $60 million.

Diplomacy
The Irish Republican Army agreed to the announcement the day before by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern that paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland didn’t have to disarm as long as they put their weapons beyond use. The IRA also agreed to allow periodic third-party inspections of is arms caches.

Politics and government
Liberal Party leader Pat Duncan sworn in as the first female Premier of Yukon, replacing Piers McDonald. The Liberals had unseated the governing Progressive Conservatives in the territorial election 19 days earlier.

Horse racing
Fusaichi Pegasus, with Kent Desormeaux up, won the 126th running of the Kentucky Derby before 153,204 fans at Churchill Downs in Louisville, covering the 1¼ miles in 2:01.12 to become the first favourite since Spectacular Bid in 1979 to win the race. Aptitude placed second, and Impeachment finished third in the 19-horse field.



Hockey
NHL
Stanley Cup
Conference Semi-Finals
New Jersey 4 @ Toronto 3 (New Jersey led best-of-seven series 3-2)

Football
CIAU
Varsity Stars @ Varsity Stadium, Edmonton
East 12 West 11

This all-star game of players at Canadian universities who were entering their draft year was the first such game to take place, and was the brainchild of Edmonton Eskimos’ general manager Tom Higgins.

Baseball
Roger Clemens (3-2) earned his 250th career major league win as he pitched the New York Yankees to a 3-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles before 54,350 fans at Yankee Stadium. Mr. Clemens allowed 4 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings, outduelling Pat Rapp (3-2).

Pedro Martinez (5-1) struck out 17 batters, allowed 6 hits, and walked just 1 batter, but his 13-game winning streak ended as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays edged the Boston Red Sox 1-0 before 32,497 fans at Fenway Park in Boston. Winning pitcher Steve Trachsel pitched a 3-hitter, striking out 11 and walking 3. The only run was scored when Dave Martinez singled with 2 out and none on base in the top of the 8th, stole second base, and scored on a single by Greg Vaughn. For some reason, a game in which there were only 13 baserunners, and in which both pitchers had complete games, took 2 hours 36 minutes to play.